Automatic railway-crossing signal



D. HILLIARD AUTOMATIC RAILWAY CROSSING SIGNAL Filed Jan; 15, 1924 2Sheets-Sheet 1 D. H. HILLIARD AUTOMATIC RAILWAY CROSSING SIGNAL 2Sheens-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 1 1924 Inventor D. H. ILLIARD 3 (fiL-ziz dhmgin- Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES nhvrn rain-swan, or Arms, IOVTA.

AUTOMATIC- RAILWAY-CROSSING sIGNAL.

Application filed January 15, 1924. Serial 686,260.

To all 207mm 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that 1,:DAVID H. I-IILLIARD, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and resident of Ames', Story County, Iowa, have invented anew and useful Automatic Railway-Crossing Signal, of which the fol1owingis a specification The object of this invention is to provide improvedmeans, adapted tobe operated by the passageof a train, for actuating; asigm1 and guard device relative to a highway crossing;- a

A further object of this invention" is to provide an improved crossingsignal and guard device for a crossing, adapted to be operatedautomatically by a train entering a block from either end and to bereleased by the entrance of the train to an inner block coincidingsubstantially with the boundariesot' the crossing.

A nrther object of this invention is to provide an improved crossingsignal and guard device for crossing, adapted to be operatedautomatically by a train entering a block from either end and to bereleased by the entrance of the train to inner block coincidingsubstantially with the boundaries of the crossing, with further means"to prevent a second actuation or? the signal: and guard device uponpassage of the train from the inner to the outer or encompassing: block.

A further object of this invention is to provide an: improvedconstruction t'or an automatic railway crossing signal, including anelectro-Inagnet adapted to be placed in circuit by entrance of a trainto a certain section or block of track, said magnet having; a slid-able"armature operatively connected with a signal and guard device.

A further object of this invention is to provideimproved connectionsbetween asignal" and guard device and the movable armature of an"electrdm-agnet.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved automaticsignalling device'involiving a plurality of magnets so arranged andconnected that the mainor signal-actuating magnet is ener ized byentrance of a train to an outer block from either direction; a secondmagnet is employed tobrealr the circuit to the first net upon entranceof the'train to an inner block aid second magnet also acting to carrylever arn'iature into position for attraction: by a third magnet whichserves to maintain the break in the. first circuit from the time thetrain leaves the inner block un'-' til it leaves the outer block, thuspreventing a second actuation of the signal device.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter setforth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated by the accompanyingdrawing, in whi'ch- Figure 1 is a plan view, partly diagrammatic,showing a section of railway track and a' highway crossing the same, asequipped with my improved signal device; Figure 2 is an elevation of thesignal device proper in nonoperative position, portions beingbrOken awayto economizespace, Fig} ure 2' being on a larger scale than Figure 1.Figure 3 is a vertical section, on a further enlarged scale, on the line33 of Figure 1', also showing a diagram of the electrical connections.

The numerals l0, l1 designate track rails of a railway, cross whichextends a highway designated at 12. An outer block is provided in the t'ack by means of breaks in the rails 10,- 11, at points designated bythe letters A and B, which breaks or joints are transversely alined inthe two rails 10, 11 of the track; The block defined by the joints A, B'may be of any desired length, one joint or break being on each side ofthe highway crossing to which the signal system applies, and said jointsor breaks are located sulliciently remote from the crossing thatthesignal will be actuated by a train entering the block, at a considerableinterval before the train reaches the crossing, to provide suflicientwarning to persons on the highway. Included within and en compassed bythe outer block A B is an inner block CD, defined by breaks or joints inone or both of the track rails, preferably located adjacent theboundaries of the crossing with the highway 12. j

The signalling and guard device is placed in any suitable location nearthe crossing of the highway 12 and railway track, and includes a base 18and a l'iousing 14 mounted thereon and containing most of the actuatingmechanism. A shaft 15 is journaled for rotary oscillation in the housing14 andprojects at one end therefrom, said shaft being arrangedtransversely with respect to the trend olithe tr: ck rails 10,11. Acylindrical electromagnet 16 is suitably mounted in horizontal positionin the housing 14, preferably below the shaft 15 and having its axis atright angles thereto. An armature 17 is provided, movable toward andaway from one end of the magnet, and has a bar 17 extending within thehollow core thereof. Attached to and extending laterally from'thearmature 17 is an arm 18 carrying a rack 19 extending across the planeof the shaft 15, and operatively engaging a toothed segment 20 looselymounted on said shaft. The rack is provided with suitable guiding meansto maintain its alinement, in this instance longitudinal slots 21therein engaged by pins 22 carried by the housing. Fixed to the hub ofthe toothed segment 20 is a radially extending arm 23, on the extremityof which, and within the housing 14, is a weight 24, and said armengages a stop 25 carried by the housing or frame, to limit its downwardmovement. Fixed to the projecting end of the shaft 15 is a guard andsignal arm 26, adapted to extend across the highway 12 at times insubstantially horizontal position as shown in Figure 1, and normally torest in elevated position as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The guard andsignal arm 26 is fixed to the shaft between its ends, and a weight 27 ismounted, preferably adjustably, on the short end thereof and serves tocounterbalance said arm and compensate for a portion of the excessweight of the longer arm thereof. A flange or hub 28 is formed on orfixed to the shaft 15 adjacent the toothed segment 20, and is formedwith spaced stop shoulders 29, 30, approximately ninety degrees apartand opposed to each other. The shoulder 29 is engaged by a pin 31(dotted lines Figure 3) on the weighted arm 23, whereby the signal andguard arm is carried to elevated position by normal movement of saidweighted arm to its position of rest; and the shoulder 30 is adapted toengage a stop 32 projecting downwardly from the top of the housing 14,to limit movement of the signal and guard arm to its normal elevatedposition. Movement of the guard arm 26 to operative position, and of theweighted arm 23 to uppermost position against the influence of gravity,is limited and cushioned by engagement of the latter arm with aresilient stop or spring 33 carried by a downwardly or inwardlyprojecting portion of the top of the housing, thereby absorbing shocksand preventling injury to the movable parts in the ac tuation of thedevice. The loose connection between the actuating means and the arm 26is to prevent injury to the latter and its connections during operationin either direction, which might occur were a rigid connection employed.

A battery 34 is suitably located, and is connected by a conductor 35 toone of the track rails, such as 10, within the limits of the block ABbut outside of the inner block CD. The opposite terminal of the batteryis connected by a conductor 36 to the electro-magnet 16. A releasingmagnet 37 and a retaining magnet 38 also are mounted within the housing14, in parallel but opposed relation, the latter magnet being of lesspower than the releasing magnet 37. The magnets 37, 38 are provided witha common armature 39, pivoted between its ends at the point 40, and soarranged that a longer or heavier arm is adapted to be att acted attimes and held by the weaker magnet 38 when moved into position for suchattraction by action of the magnet 37 on the opposite end of saidarmature, which is normally held in the position shown in Figure 3 byforce of gravity upon its longer or heavier end. A contact member 41 isarranged in the housing and is adapted to be engaged by the shorter armof the pivoted armature 39 when in its normal position. A conductor 42connects the electromagnet 16 to the contact point or member 41, and thecircuit is completed through the pivoted armature 39 by a conductor 43attached to the pivot 40 thereof and extending to the opposite trackrail, 11. The conductor 43 prefeably is connected directly at itsterminal with a shunt conductor 44 having its ends attached to oppositeend portions of the rail. 11, on opposite sides of the inner block C-Dand within the block AB, but any other suitable arrangement may be madefor forming a broken circuit between both end portions of the block ABthrough the other members described. A sub-circuit also is establishedthrough the weaker or retaining magnet 38 in connection with the opencircuit just described, by means of conductors 45, 46 connecting saidmagnet to other conductors of the circuit, in this instance to theconductors 36 and 43 respectively.

The releasing magnet 37 is in a ditlerent circuit, having one terminalconnected by a conductor 47 with the battery, in this instance throughthe conductors 45 and 36, and the opposite terminal of said magnet 37 isin open circuit with the inner block CD by means of a conductor 48attached to one of the rails of said inner block, in this instance 11,which portion of the rail is separated from the other or outer portionsof said rail constituting the end portions of the outer block AB. Asignal light 49 preferably is mounted in the longer end portion of theguard and signal arm 26, and is connected with the main circuit by aconductor 50 attached to the battery or to the wire 35 adjacent theretoand by a conductor 51 extending to a contact member 52 within thehousing, adapted to be engaged at times by a spring switch 53 adapted tobe engaged by the weight 24 of the arm 23 and held in open position whensaid weighted arm is at rest or the guard arm is in inoperativeposition, said switch having connection with the battery by means of aconductor 54, in this instance attached to the conductor 36.

In practical use the main circuit is closed by a train (or locomotive)entering the outer block A-B from either end, the metallic partsbridging the space between the track rails 10, 11, thus energizing theoperating magnet 16 which attracts the armature 17 and moves itinwardly. Such movement causes a corresponding movement of the arm 18and rack bar 19, thus oscillating the toothed segment 20 and lifting theweighted arm 23 to the position indicated by dotted lines in. Figure 3.This moves the pin 31 away from the shoulder 29 and permits the signaland guard arm 26 to fall to substantially horizontal position across thehighway 12, and the parts are held in such position so long as the maincircuit is closed through the operating magnet 16. Upward movement ofthe weight 24: releases the spring switch 54, closing the circuitthrough the light 49 in the guard arm and causing it to be illuminated,thus furnishing additional warning to pedestrians or drivers on thehighway as to the approach of a train to the crossing.

As soon as the train has entered the crossing, the guard and signal,under ordinary circumstances, is no longer needed, hence the provisionof the releasing magnet in open circuit through the inner block C-Dwhich is substantially coincident with the boundaries of the crossing.As soon as the train enters the inner block from either end the circuitis closed, through the conductor 48 and other members and the releasingmagnet 37 is energized, drawing to it the shorter arm of the pivotedarmature 39 and breaking the circuit through the operating magnet 16 bymoving said armature 39 out of engagement with the contact member 41.Thereupon, the magnet 16 being de-energized, the weighted arm 23 dropsby gravity, the weight 24 being sufficient to elevate the signal andguard arm 26 by ongagement of the pin 31 with the shoulder 29. As theweight 24: passes to a position of rest it engages the spring switch 53,moves it to open position and breaks the circuit to the light 49. Thereleasing magnet 37 continues its function of holding the pivotedarmature 39 until such time as the circuit therethrough is broken bpassage of the train from the inner block D, but in the meantime theweaker magnet 38 has begun to function through movement of the longerand heavier end of the armature within its range, and the latter magnetcontinues to hold the pivoted armature in its oscillated position,wherein the main circuit through the operating magnet is broken, untilsuch time as the train clears the outer block A-B and causes a furtherbreak in the main circuit through removal of the connection between thetrack rails. t is to be understood that the retaining magnet 38 isenergized simultaneously with the main or operating magnet 16, byentrance of the train to the outer block ih--B but that it has notsuiiicient power to lift the adjacent end of the pivoted armature 39from its normal gravity-held position; and that upon the break in themain circuit y movement of the armature 39 from the contact member 41through the energization of the releasing magnet 37 (the circuit throughthe retaining magnet 38 not being afiected by such break), said pivotedarmature is moved within the range of said magnet 38 and is thereafterheld in such position by said magnet until the train has cleared theouter block. This makes it possible to release the guard and signaldevice through the action of the releasing magnet, before the train hascleared the outer block, and yet make sure that the train will not againenergize the operating magnet and operate the devices by its passagefrom the inner to the outer block; but a second actuation of thedevices, after a train has once entered the outer block, can only occurafter the train has left the outer block.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a railway crossing-signal, thecombination with spaced track rails of an electro-magnet in open circuittherewith, a shaft, a signal member mounted on said shaft, a rack barconnected with the armature of said magnet, a toothed segment on saidshaft engaged by said rack bar, a movable member normally in circuitwith said rails and electro-magnet, a second electromagnet for breakingthe circuit through the first electro-magnet by oscillating said movablemember, and a third electro-magnet for retaining said movable member incircuitb-reaking position.

2. In a railway-crossing signal, the combination with spaced track railsof an electro-magnet in open circuit therewith, a shaft, a signal memberfixed to said shaft, a rack bar adapted to be operated by the armatureof said magnet, a toothed segment loosely mounted on said shaft and inengagement with said rack bar, and operative connections between saidsegment and shaft for operating the latter in one direction.

3. In a railway-crossing signal, the combination with spaced track railsof an electro-magnet in open circuit therewith, a shaft. a signal memberfixed to said shaft, a rack bar adapted to be operated by the armatureof said magnet, a toothed segment loosely mounted on said shaft and inengagement with said rack bar, operative connections between saidsegment and shaft for operating the latter in one direction, and meansfor returning the segment, rack bar and armature to their normalpositions after an actuation.

4;. In a railway-crossing signal, the combination with spaced trackrails of an electro-magnet in open circuit therewith, a shaft, a signalmember fixed to said shaft, a rack bar adapted to be operated by thearmature of the magnet, a toothed segment loosely mounted on said shaftand in engagement with said rack bar, connections between the segmentand shaft for operat ing the latter in one direction, a weighted arm onsaid segment for returning it and the rack bar and armature to normalpositions after an actuation, and a light carried by said signal memberin open circuit through a spring switch adapted to be engaged by saidweighted arm and held in open position except while said signal deviceis in operative position.

5. In a railway-crossing signal, the combination with spaced track railsof an electro-magnet in open circuit therewith, an oscillating signaldevice, a movable member normally in the circuit with said rails andelectro-magnet, a second electro-magnet for actuating said movablemember and breaking the circuit through the first electro-magnet, and athird electro-magnet for retaining said movable member in circuitbreaking position.

6. In a railway-crossing signal, spaced track rails divided into anouter block and an inner block within the limits of the outer block, anoperating magnet in open circuit with said outer block, said circuitincluding a contact member and a movable member normally in contacttherewith, a signal device adapted to be actuated through energizationof said magnet by a train entering the outer block, a releasing magnetin open circuit with said inner block and adapted when energized by atrain entering said inner block to actuate said movable member and breakthe circuit through said operating magnet, and a retaining magnet alsoin open circuit with said outer block and adapted to hold said movablemember in circuit-breaking position until the train leaves the outerblock.

7. In a. railwaycrossing signal, spaced track rails divided into anouter block and an inner block within the limits of the outer block, anoperating magnet in open circuit with the outer block, said circuitincluding acontact member and a movable member normally in contacttherewith, a signal device adapted to be actuated through energizationof: said magnet by a train entering the outer block, a releasing and aretaining magnet each adapted to act on. said movable member at times,said releasing magnet being in open circuit with the inner block andadapted when energized by a train entering said inner block to actuatesaid movable member and break the circuit through said operating magnet,such actuation of the movable member bringing it into position forattraction by the retaining magnet, said retaining magnet being in opencircuit with the outer block and being adapted to hold said movablemember in circuit-breaking position from the time of its actuation bythe releasing magnet until the train leaves the outer block.

Signed at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, this 21stday of December, 1923.

DAVID H. HILLIARD.

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